DARREN FERWERDA OF OAKLAND CHARGED WITH POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

TO: ALL NEWS MEDIA

FROM: PROSECUTOR GURBIR S. GREWAL

DATE: DECEMBER 1, 2016

Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal announced the arrest of DARREN FERWERDA (DOB: 6/8/1979; single; and employed as a surveyor) of 45 Demarest Avenue in Oakland, New Jersey, relating to charges of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, specifically by possessing images and videos depicting child sexual exploitation. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by members of the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office ("BCPO") Cyber Crimes Unit under the direction of Chief of Detectives Robert ANZILOTTI.

On Tuesday, August 23, 2016, members of the BCPO Cyber Crimes Unit executed a search warrant at the home of Darren FERWERDA during the course of an investigation related to child pornography on the Internet. Multiple items of evidence were seized from the premises and the investigation continued for several months. Ultimately, the investigation revealed that FERWERDA utilized the Internet to access, view, and collect sexually explicit images and videos of prepubescent and pubescent male and female children.

As a result, Darren FERWERDA surrendered to authorities on Wednesday, November 30, 2016, and he was arrested and charged with one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, to wit: Possession of Child Pornography, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:24- 4B(5)(B), a third degree crime. FERWERDA was released on his own recognizance and is scheduled to appear in Bergen County Central Judicial Processing Court for a first appearance on Wednesday, December 14, 2016 at 8:30 a.m.

Bergen County Prosecutor Grewal states that this charge is merely an accusation and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Prosecutor Grewal would like to thank the Oakland Police Department for their assistance in this investigation.